Deadly car bomb attacks hit Iraq

At least seven people killed in two explosions, one of which targeted a Shia mosque south of Baghdad.

At least seven people were killed in two car bomb attacks, including several policemen [Reuters]

At least seven people have died after two car bomb attacks, one of which exploded near a Shia mosque south of Baghdad, Iraqi officials said.

According to police officials, the mosque bombing took place on Tuesday as worshippers were leaving the mosque in the town of Madain, about 20km south of Baghdad. They said five people were killed and 13 wounded in that attack.

Earlier in the day, two policemen were killed as they were trying to defuse a car bomb left on the road near the northern city of Kirkuk.

Medical officials confirmed the casualty figures, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to talk to media.

Members of Iraq's security forces frequently come under attack by armed groups who consider them to be traitors.

The attacks came a day after bombings targeting a cafe, a football field and a market in areas north of Baghdad killed 28 people.

The interior ministry on Monday announced the arrest of 82 people in Salaheddin and Diyala provinces, 56 of them at an alleged al-Qaeda training camp.

Authorities have repeatedly highlighted security operations, among the largest since US forces departed in December 2011, which they say have led to the killing or capture of many members of armed groups.

But whatever gains the operations have made, they have failed to stop the bloodshed: Violence in Iraq has increased markedly this year, with 3,421 people killed since the beginning of 2013, according to figures compiled by the AFP news agency - an average of more than 15 per day.

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